At the beginning of the Great Recession, when the tides turned for the job market, suddenly there were more candidates for jobs than there were jobs available. The small business market got hit the worst. For the first time in a very long time, it became a buyer’s market.
Despite improvements and signs of recovery on the horizon this year, it seems the changes of yesterday have forever changed the way hiring is conducted. That is why it’s so important to avoid using outdated and ineffective methods and tools to assist in your job search.
As a job seeker, here are the most effective and ineffective ways to conduct a job search, to help you make the most of your efforts to land a great job.
Sending Resumes
- Ineffective Method: Sending out a single, stock resume to all jobs you apply for. While it is the simplest solution when there are so many jobs available, it’s not the most effective use of your five-second resume “pitch” to get the attention of potential employers.
- Effective Method: Instead of sending out a standard, one-size-fits-all resume to companies interested in hiring you, consider making a few changes that personalize and customize the resume before sending it each time. It doesn’t take a major investment of time and it can provide a great return on investment for your job search efforts.
Applying for Jobs
- Ineffective Method: The simple way to apply for jobs, with most businesses, is through mass job boards or company websites. The bad news for job seekers is that this puts them competing with the other thousands of candidates in need of a job who have seen, and responded to, the same advertisements.
- Effective Method: Invest a little time to find out who the hiring manager for the company happens to be and send a personalized resume complete with cover letter to that person. It shows ingenuity on your part and ensures the right eyes find your resume so that it isn’t lost in the shuffle of so many others. Contact local staffing agencies and get support with finding assignments in the organizations you want to work with. Connect with hiring companies using social networks.
If these methods are so ineffective, why is it that people are still using them by the thousands? The answer comes down to a few primary factors.
1) Not so blissful ignorance – Until recently, this is the way people were taught in business school, and beyond, to conduct job searches. The problem is that these methods were perfected in a different world when it comes to businesses hiring employees.
2) The path of least resistance – Most people today will opt for the simple solution every time – even if they know it’s not the right one. In their minds, they are at least accomplishing something in an effort to find employment.
3) They haven’t evolved to the new job search reality – some people are simply old school with their job search. They haven’t faced facts and really come to terms with the fact that the job search process has changed forever.
Keep these things in mind as you conduct your job search and you should have few problems securing the job you want.
For access to a wide range of temporary and contract employment opportunities in the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan areas, be sure to visit Advance Staffing Solutions’ career portal today.
